One for the Irish Breeders

[chicolena]

After reading respones from the buyers at the recent Go for Gold sale, in which they emphasised a real 'want' for the traditionally bred irish horse. It got me thinking and reminded me of a statement that ive heard from several breeders , that theres " not the same level of performance (ie jumping) TB stallions, as there was years ago" and thats why the traditional cross cant compete at higher level SJ.

I have to say that i just dont agree, there are plenty of really good TBs sires out there in Ireland and elsewhere.

Maybe the way forward is to bred the performance TB into our damlines and then cross with ID stallion.

It cant be denied the number of breedings to TB stallions has really dropped over the years. Why do you think this is ? It would be really interesting to hear peoples opinions

 

[Simsar]

search Happy days for ish breeders on this forum this discussion has been done before, mainly fashion dictates what is bred.

 

[Eothain]

Simple answer.

Go through the WBFSH rankings and look at the traditionally bred ISH jumpers and count them. See how many there are. Then see how many there are with Continental breeding. Facts, figures and stats don't lie.
Without Cruising's influence traditional ISH breeding would be septic.
With the arrival of Cavalier and his continental comrades, ISH breeding for showjumping would be irrelevant.

If you can breed an International jumper by an ID, my hat is off to you.

Go For Gold is an Eventing sale. Different criteria. 75% TB breeding is needed for 4* success

 

[chicolena]

I no go for gold is eventing sale.

i didnt really explain that well, i agree that a ID XTB isnt likely to go to top level, but a cross again on a 3/4 or another 1/2 bred irish horse could.

I just think there are nice jumping TB out there. there is still a role for the 'Right ' TB. I like the stallions- Hopalong cassidy , Esteban , Betel, Albaran, road to happiness. all show good
jumping technique.

Thanks for the response, i read a bit of that extremely long thread great food for thought.

 

[Eothain]

My recommendation then is to look at the last published ISH Studbook and go through the TB stallion section and look in the purple box where it lists the international performing progeny. Not a TB stallion at stud in Ireland today has produced a single international showjumper.

Many mares by TB sires when crossed to a ISH or WB purpose bred showjumping stallion have produced international horses.

What does that say? If you're using a TB on an ID mare and get a colt, send it hunting or to the leisure sector. Get a filly, cross it again to a TB for a 3/4 bred. 3/4 bred colts go eventing and 3/4 bred fillies, if they know how to leave the ground properly, send them to a jumping sire.

I'm being very very general there of course but I'm sure you catch my drift.

ID horses up close to the front of a competition horse's pedigree unless it's Sea Crest, Crosstown Dancer or Crannagh Hero are probably a liability these days. TB breeding should be one or two steps back and a couple of generations of purpose bred performance genetics at the front of the pedigree is helpful.

A good horse is a good horse is a good horse regardless of if it's Irish, German or French.

What we can be heartened by is the fact that of all the horses ever born, the Traditional Irish cross did give the world the best horse of all time, Cruising